FollowMe 1.2 - Free Java ME GPS Tracking Software

FollowMe 1.2 Free Open Source GPS tracking software for MIDP 2.0+ phones

FollowMe is the new name for Silent Software's LocateMe, this small (45K) application requires a mobile phone with an integrated GPS or a separate Bluetooth GPS and will show you the direction to given locations ("targets") without maps, using a pulsing direction arrow. You can request the location of other FollowMe users by text message, send your own position, or just simply save locations ("targets") for directions back to them later. Targets can even later be imported into Google Earth or Maps.

The Features

• "Target" other FollowMe users' positions via a text message
• Save multiple locations (targets "waypoints") with names (NEW for 1.2)
• Stores your targets as Google Earth/Maps KML (NEW for 1.2)
• Send your current position to other FollowMe users via text message
• Connects to any mobile phone integrated GPS or Bluetooth GPS
• View all the satellites around you on a "radar" style view
• Display RAW GPS data (suitable for testing)
• Complete integrated GPS support (some features may not be available depending on phone GPS capability).

For developers the fully commented source code provides

• Design patterns, i.e. lazy initialization, command, strategy patterns
• An example of a 2 tier system
• How to use PushRegistry and File Connector (JSR 118)
• How to use the Record Store (JSR 118)
• How to use Bluetooth (JSR 82)
• How to use Text Messaging (JSR 120)
• How to use the PIM (and hack to minimise the security notices - JSR 75)
• How to use the Location Based API (JSR 179 - Nokia lapi.jar included for use on non GPS integrated phones)
• How to use simple graphics (not using a Game Canvas however)
• How to multi thread effectively
• How to process raw NMEA GPS data
• Basic usage of the NanoXML parser
• Basic understanding of graphical and GPS trigonometry

Known Issues

• The application is not security signed (this costs money!), so you will be shown numerous security popups when you start it.
• As your phone is not a compass the direction target arrow will only point to the correct direction once you start walking, and the phone can determine which way relative to North you are going, i.e. when you are stood still your phone doesn't know which direction you are facing! :) On startup, until the GPS gets an accurate fix, the direction arrow to the target WILL NOT BE SHOWN.
• On first run there can be some delay discovering the Bluetooth devices in busy areas (i.e. it may display "Waiting for GPS..." on first run for some time). This is down to the Bluetooth device discovery picking up a large number of devices and querying them. Once you have located your GPS, future connections to the GPS do not require this discovery period and will be relatively quick.

Compatibility
This software has been tested on Nokia Series 40 3rd edition phones at a minimum resolution of 128x128 pixels and Sun WTK emulator at 240x320. It has also been successfully tested on a Nokia N95 and Nokia 6650 with integrated GPS', and the INQ1 phone with separate Bluetooth GPS.

Downloads
Download for mobile phones with an integrated GPS
Download for mobile phones using a separate Bluetooth GPS
Download FollowMe source code (and full javadoc)

Softpedia Mirror Now Available

Softpedia has started mirroring some Silent Software that is GPL licenced ...although I didn't actually list some of it!! The following software has been awarded the Softpedia logo shown on this page.

Aerofoil on Softpedia
Image to ZX Spec on Softpedia
Gesture Magic on Softpedia

Please note some of the software available on this blog whilst free to download is NOT GPL (CPL and closed source). I'll be sure in future blog descriptions to make the licence more clear.

The latest versions of the software will always be on this blog first. As the copyright holder the source code (for the GPL and CPL software) will be available here as long as I distribute the binary downloads.

FollowMe 1.2 Release Delay :(

As happens with other software I write in my free time I've not been able to push FollowMe 1.2 out of the door quickly as I'd like since I've been on holiday and now have a bad head cold (hopefully not the s-flu!) but the software is still on the cards as the next immediate release.

Thanks for your patience.

FollowMe 1.2 (the new name for LocateMe)

Since its release in early 2008 LocateMe 1.1 has been a great program, but is slipping behind the times compared to now many other similar modern hardware tracking solutions.

LocateMe has also unintentionally shared the same name as other similar popular software for iphone and pocket pc (which admittedly has probably helped in its success), so now its name is changing, it's shortly to be called FollowMe.

I'll be releasing a new build with improved phone compatibility within the next few days, and, new to FollowMe 1.2 is the ability to track multiple targets.

The roadmap for FollowMe 2.0 includes a beaconing feature and an innovative (and hush hush) feature that I'll be divulging on the day of release.

Keep an eye on this blog :)

Genuine Original Windows XP Themes Collection

A number of genuine themes have been released for Windows XP over the years.

As a convenience to readers I'm listing the download links to the Microsoft sites below - I'll update this post if any more become available (and when I find them - there is a "Watercolor" XP beta theme lurking around somewhere but I can't seem to find a Microsoft signed copy).

Name	Description
Zune	Orange and black
Windows Embedded	Dark blue
Royale	Shiny blue Windows Media Center (note Microsoft removed the official link here and replaced it with just the wallpapers).
Royale Noir	(Incomplete black theme NOT compatible if you have standard Royale - read the linked page first!)

Update: I've just found out Viperfang covered all of these with screenshots a few weeks ago - have a look

LocateMe 1.1 Released - Free Java ME GPS Tracking Software

UPDATE: LocateMe 1.1 has been updated and renamed to FollowMe 1.2

LocateMe - Free open source GPS tracking software for MIDP 2.0 mobile phones.

This small (30-35K) application requires a mobile phone with an integrated GPS or a separate Bluetooth GPS and will show you the direction to a given location (a "target") without maps, using a pulsing direction arrow. You can request the location of other LocateMe users by text message, send your own location, or just simply save a location for directions back to it later.

The Features:

* "Target" other LocateMe users' locations via a request text message
* Send your location to other LocateMe users via text message (can use your contacts list)
* Record your last location as a target
* View all the satellites around you on a "radar" style view
* Display RAW GPS data (suitable for testing)
* Connects to any mobile phone integrated GPS or Bluetooth GPS
* Saves your GPS and target settings between runs.

New Features for 1.1:

* Complete integrated GPS support (some features may not be available depending on phone GPS capability).
* Last known target direction shown when stationary (arrow stops pulsing when stationary and an accurate direction cannot be calculated due to GPS fix precision errors)
* Added a new option to invert display colours (you can choose depending on light)
* Fixed the speed error for bluetooth GPS knots to km/h - the value was off by 0.001 km/h per knot
* Fixed the speed bug for integrated GPS (would you believe - integrated GPS use metres/second, normal GPS use knots!)
* Added a warning before setting a new target
* Added support for viewing satellites positions using an integrated GPS (Bluetooth always could) but only if the phone can support this feature
* Moved "Target here" to "Target" which on most devices will now be at the top of the menu or centred
* Sats button is now "Satellites"
* Marquee time is 45 seconds before next reading shown
* Moved "Dist. to target" to start of marquee text
* Distance shown is in km when metres > 1000
* Removed the About menu item (it now shows (C) Silent Software in the marquee on first run)

For developers the fully commented source code is a good example of:

* Design patterns, i.e. lazy initialization, command, strategy patterns
* 2 Tier system
* How to use PushRegistry (JSR 118)
* How to use the Record Store (JSR 118)
* How to use Bluetooth (JSR 82)
* How to use Text Messaging (JSR 120)
* How to use the PIM (and hack to minimise the security notices - JSR 75)
* How to use the Location Based API (JSR 179 - Nokia lapi.jar included)
* How to use simple graphics (not using a Game Canvas however)
* How to multi thread effectively
* How to process raw NMEA GPS data
* Provide a basic understanding into Graphical and GPS trigonometry

Known Issues:

* The application is not security signed (this costs money!), so you will be shown numerous security popups when you start it.
* As your phone is not a compass the direction target arrow will only point to the correct direction once you start walking, and the phone can determine which way relative to North you are going, i.e. when you are stood still your phone doesn't know which direction you are facing! :) On startup, until the GPS gets an accurate fix, the direction arrow to the target will not be shown.
* On first run there can be some delay discovering the Bluetooth devices in busy areas (i.e. it may display "Waiting for GPS..." on first run for some time). This is down to the Bluetooth device discovery picking up a large number of devices and querying them. Once you have located your GPS, future connections to the GPS do not require this discovery period and will be relatively quick

This software has been tested on Nokia Series 40 3rd edition phones at a minimum resolution of 128x128 pixels and Sun WTK emulator at 240x320. It has also been successfully tested on a Nokia N95 and Nokia 6650 with integrated GPS'.

The software is licenced under the modified for UK Law CPL 1.0 licence which is included with the distributions.

Download for mobile phones with an integrated GPS
Download for mobile phones using a separate Bluetooth GPS
Download LocateMe source code (and full javadoc)

Free Legal Prodigy and Chemical Brothers MP3 Albums

It occurred to me that like the free and legal commercial games I mentioned last year I've been listening for a few years to some free albums and thought I'd give them a mention. These albums should be legal since they are purely "remixes" (albeit quite close to the originals...).

First up is The Chemical Brothers Remixed "Flip The Switch", which is based on "Push The Button".

Next it's the turn of The Prodigy with Always Outsiders, Never Outdone", which is based on "Always Outnumbered, Never Outgunned".

How to Run Remote Desktop Connection Client (RDP / rdesktop) on Windows XP Home

If like me you've scoured the net because the Remote Desktop Connection client program can't be found on your start bar under All Programs -> Accessories -> Communications because you have XP HOME edition, you'll be pleased to hear you can ignore all the nonsense that it is only available on XP PRO and above, and even that you'll need to hack Windows to have your machine pretend it's XP PRO.

Simply go into the folder C:\WINDOWS\system32\ and create a shortcut on your desktop to the file mstsc.exe that can be found inside.

This is in fact the Remote Desktop Client application, double click your new shortcut to start!

Free Iron Man MP3 Download

Okay so I haven't finished Vampire Castle or done work on Gesture Magic, with good reason however - I've been job hunting.

Console yourself with a free mp3 download of a song from the official Iron Man movie album curtesy of http://ironmansoundtrack.marvel.com/.

Just watch the trailer and the mp3 download starts at the end.

Optimizer 1.0.6 ( for Zaurus ) - now free to download

The (once 3rd best selling) retail Sharp Zaurus software, Optimizer, is now available for free.

From its retail description: Optimizer is a utility to help monitor and maintain an optimal amount of free storage memory space on your Zaurus by tracking changes to your PDA's file system over time.

Before you go off to download it, let me give you some background.

Back in the day when I was first learning Personal Java (the precursor to J2ME, JavaME - Java Mobile Edition) I wrote a small program for a flagship Java device, the Linux based Sharp Zaurus SL5000D/SL5500, that could keep track of changes to files and directories, since Linux was a still a new and scary operating system, and I didn't always know what files were altered when I installed something new.

As you may have guessed, Optimizer was the name of the program. No nifty file MD5sum or datestamp checking to compare file changes, nope, this purely uses the existence of file paths, so it doesn't check for file modifications.



As it was written in Java I adapted the program to be compatible with Jeode (evm) on PocketPC (it was given away free with Axims at the time) and even on a desktop PC (although it's a bit slow on large filesystems). In time, I made it compatible with Sun's Personal Profile J2ME (cvm) making it compatible with other Zaurus' and had it use a layout manager to adapt to any screen size. Truly forward thinking ;)

Now that it is no longer available retail I offer it for free, without any support.

I'm not proud of the source code, it certainly isn't poor, but it's not that great either, so I won't be releasing it (you could decompile it, but really, it's not worth the effort just to embarrass me with some code I wrote 5 years ago)!

Download the last retail version of Optimizer 1.0.6

DON'T UPDATE QUICKPLAY TO 3.3 !!!

On my HP notebook I've just had the misfortune of using the built in HP QuickPlay update to update it to revision 3.3, this is software written by a company called Cyberlink who don't provide support unless you are a member.

When you "update" to version 3.3 via the application (not via HP's site or HP update) it will DOWNGRADE, let me just stress that again,

DOWNGRADE

the software so you can no longer view media files, use your built in HP web cam etcetera.

Rolling back via System Restore is futile (the app doesn't restore - nothing works at all now) and even reinstalling 3.0 or 3.2 still leaves you with just DVDPlay (the DVD playing part of Quickplay).

Frankly I am very pissed off at just wasting 5 hours in vain trying to restore the web cam functionality in Quickplay but 3.3 does something to prevent you restoring it.

If anyone knows how to fix this drop me a comment, personally I am no longer using Cyberlink's products and I'll be advising friends the same.